Superior Bike Fest Earns Sanction
Frida Waara April 20, 2007
Cycling in the Upper Peninsula has been gaining attention
nationwide, but now the biggest weekend of racing just got
better. The three day Superior Bike Fest, in Marquette June
22-24, has become a sanctioned USA Cycling event, the national
governing body for road racing where licensed riders earn
points. “This means road riders can compete in the Criterium
on Friday night, the 55 or 100 mile road races on Saturday,
and the added Circuit Racing at K.I. Sawyer on Sunday,”
explains Superior Bike Fest Co-Director Donn Wolf.
Typically, according to Wolf, “A USAC event is only
one day long, but we’re offering a whole weekend of
competition. Riders get a huge bang for their buck.”
When it comes to prize money, USAC competitors will also
be taking home bigger checks. Overall winners, determined
by the Omnium Points format, can earn as much as $935. "With
Naterra Land and our new sponsor Frei Chevrolet, we’re
able to more than double our purse in one year from $2900
to $8,000,” adds Wolf. “We’re proud to be
a part of this event,” says Jeff LeMaster, Manager for
Naterra Land in Marquette, a real estate company specializing
in waterfront and recreational property. “Anytime you
can be involved connecting people with the outdoors, and specifically
the beautiful U.P., it’s exciting.”Frei Chevrolet’s
owner, Jim Grundstrom, who also serves with Wolf as Race Co-Director,
has been involved with the Superior Bike Fest since the beginning.
“We’ve always been a player in this race with
support vehicles and building trail,” says Grundstrom,
“But not up front with a check.” Grundstrom understands
how an increased purse can attract more riders to grow the
event, adding, “It’s a huge feeling to give back
to the community and a fun partnership with Naterra.”
All along Superior Bike Fest organizers have supported getting
the kids involved (those under 12 without training wheels
race the Criterium for free) as well as Citizen Racing for
adults, but for recreational riders who aren’t aiming
for prize money or medals, they have added a new event to
Saturday’s agenda. “Those who want to ride the
35 mile touring class will still have the advantage of police
support and intersection control,” explains Wolf. “It’s
ideal for first-timers.” Saturday’s downhill event
scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at Marquette Mountain Ski Area
will count the best of two runs. “The lifts will start
running at 9 a.m. so we’re stretching practice from
one to three hours,” says Grundstrom, who has also been
pushing for course changes to the Mountain Chase cross-country
mountain bike race on Sunday. “Mike Brunette, our course
designer, is adding some sections to make the trail more user
friendly and less intimidating to the novice riders,”
says Grundstrom. “But you can still count on the climbs
out of the Carp River. We don’t want to take away the
challenge.” Superior Bike Fest began with the Mountain
Chase around Marquette Mountain Ski area in 1995 as a fundraiser
for the local Ski Patrol. Then in 2003, after mountain bike
entries hit an all-time low, road racing was added to the
weekend. As a host facility for the road event, the Marquette
YMCA also shared in the funds raised. By 2004, the road events
expanded to include the Friday night Criterium and Superior
Bike Fest became a three-day event. “Fundraising was
pretty feeble in the beginning, “says Grundstrom. “But
now, all totaled, I bet we’re in the $20,000 to $30,000
range.”
For more Superior Bike Fest information go to www.superiorbikefest.com/email
superiorbikefest@chartermi.net or call 888-578-6489.
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